Exclusive: Antoni Porowski's New Nat Geo Show 'Leans Into' 'Unique' 'Human Stories': 'I'm More Interested in What Other People Have to Say'

Antoni Porowski is excited for his fans to see a different side to him when Best of the World with Antoni Porowski — a four-part National Geographic travel docuseries in which the celebrity food and culture expert explores Paris, Mexico City, London and New York City — releases on June 7.

"No Taste Like Home is maybe the most subjective title for a show ever, but what makes it unique is that we really leaned into the human stories behind things. We got to understand literally how Big Ben is operated, to why a knedel — which is a Polish dessert — in a Japanese izakaya restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, can make you cry if you have enough information about it. It’s always the human story behind the thing. Whether you’re planning a trip or just want to check out and dream a little bit, it’s the show for you," the Queer Eye alum exclusively tells Morning Honey about the new series.

"I’m really excited for people to experience it. Whether you’re planning on going to one of these cities or anywhere else, hopefully, it encourages you to approach wherever you go with curiosity. Learn about different ways of doing things and different experiences. Wellness comes in many different shapes and forms. Sometimes it’s going down an old Aztec canal. Other times it’s swimming in an old wharf that was revitalized in the heart of London’s financial district. There are so many beautifully wacky things out there. Do the weird thing. Do the thing that makes you uncomfortable," he continues.

Additionally, after being part of Queer Eye for 10 seasons, he's headlining this show alone.

"Sometimes in life, things don’t seem to make sense at the time, but when I look back, I’m like, 'Oh, it all totally makes sense.' I was on Queer Eye where there were five of us. Then I was on No Taste Like Home, which was another person and me. Now I’m kind of left to my own devices, and it’s just my take on things. It’s fun, but it’s different. At the end of the day, I can talk till the cows come home, but I’m always more interested in what other people have to say and what I can learn from them," he shares.

He adds, "It’s definitely more of me, for better or worse, depending on who you speak to. Whether somebody is planning their next trip and wants inspiration to do things a little differently, or they just want to dream a little and see what it’s like to visit a city through my eyes, this show is for you."

The TV personality got to even explore his own backyard — New York City — and he quickly realized there's still so much to see.

"So we actually came to Governor's Island as part of the show. Governor’s Island is one of those places that has been here forever. It has a long history in New York through colonization and the people who originally inhabited it. And then it was kind of taken over, and it became a military establishment," he shares. "Now it’s been a little more democratized, with a bit more of their presence, but it is a fascinating, spooky, interesting place."

He adds, "And what’s so beautiful is that I think, especially as a New Yorker, it’s off the beaten map. Everyone knows where it is, but I don’t think they really understand what goes on on the island. There’s a really wacky, unique spa that’s right down the road. And with a place like this, I think especially as a New Yorker, when we were producing the episode and trying to figure out what we wanted, the story we wanted to tell, we could have gone in the direction of all of my favorite places, or surprise me into experiencing a part of New York that I never really fully leaned into."

Porowski knows that his head is typically "in his phone" while walking around the Big Apple, which is why it was fun for him to play tourist.

"To be here for a night as a local, or even as a tourist, it’s literally like a five- or six-minute ferry from Battery Park or from the Financial District, and suddenly you’re in a completely different environment. The water is literally 20 to 30 feet away. We have the Statue of Liberty, parts of Jersey, but if you lean that way you see the entirety of New York City’s downtown skyline. And there’s just something so like, 'Oh wow, this place is a beast,'" he points out.

Porowski also learned about Cuts & Slices, which "changed his life."

"I’m a purist. Cheese or pepperoni on my pizza. I don’t like to get too complicated. But when I tried the Sweet Oxtail Chili, I understood the hype. I understood why there’s a line and why they’re getting so much attention, because it was one of the best d--- slices I’ve ever had in my life. There’s so much meat on it you can barely fold it. You almost want to enjoy it unfolded so the salt and the umami from the spices hit your lips right when you take a bite," he gushes. "The crust is perfect. It’s so good."

Ultimately, he's happy he got to explore NYC.

"The main character of the New York episode is the New York City Marathon because it happened to be taking place then. It was the most attended and participated in marathon in New York history. We met running clubs in Harlem representing Black runners, a volunteer who was the last person to finish the marathon a few years ago and now hands out medals to participants, and my partner Zacharias [Niedzwiecki], who literally ran the marathon. I met him at the finish line, and he shockingly looked really good by the end of it. He really crushed it. I had never run it, never even watched it. I always sort of avoided it because there were so many people, and now I regret that. Now I always want to participate in some capacity because it’s one of those events that brings the entire city together. Whether it’s nuns watching, kids with their families, or people who decided to make it a day-drinking event, it brings everyone together. Especially in these times, anything that reminds us of that — having a moment where we’re all rooting for something — is really beautiful."

It's not lost on the star how lucky he is to travel to all these places, including Mexico City.

"I’d been to Paris, I’d been to London, I live in New York. Mexico City was the best first day I’ve ever had in my life. The city blew me away. I went for the brutalist architecture and for the food, and I stayed for the incredible Xochimilco Canals that the Aztecs originally built that led into the city, which is on a lake. The root systems from the trees are just taking over everywhere, and it’s a reminder that nature is king. It was just stunning. We ended with this beautiful Alebrije Festival, which is basically all these papier-mâché fantastical creatures made of, like, 10 or 12 different animals. All these artists, self-funded, not backed by anyone else, display what matters to them," he shares.

He adds, "It was maybe the most beautiful, peaceful protest I’ve ever taken part in. One float was for b----- cancer survivors. Another was a statement on immigration and the passage of corn and how it connects the U.S. and Mexico, and a reminder that we’re all connected through our food. There were so many beautiful messages there, and to experience such immense pride and kindness really blew me away."

If Season 2 gets greenlit, Porowski has some places in mind he wouldn't mind seeing.

"I’ve never been to the spice markets in Istanbul, so that would be really exciting. I’d also love to go to Poland and learn more because my parents immigrated from there. I was born in Canada, and there’s so much I don’t know that I’d love to uncover and better understand why they are the way they are. There’s so much of South America I haven’t seen. We haven’t even gone to Africa or Asia yet. The sky truly is the limit. While we tackled these four bustling cosmopolitan cities, I think it’d be really interesting to go to a smaller town in Spain, like Mallorca, or somewhere a little more obscure where the footprint isn’t as big and just explore what’s going on there. That’s the thing with travel. You can go to a big city, but you can also go to a small little place and not move around as much and really explore some of the details," he notes.

BEST OF THE WORLD WITH ANTONI POROWSKI premieres June 7 on National Geographic at 9/8c with all episodes streaming next day on Disney+ and Hulu.